Plastic display basket for tomatoes and the like with integral interconnecting means



Apr 18, 1961 w; s. PINKERTON 2,980,243

PLASTIC DISPLAY BASKET FOR TOMATOES AND THE LIKE WITH INTEGRAL INTERCONNECTING MEANS Filed Oct. 12, 1959 IN VEN TOR. WLLIAM S. PINKER ro- AT TQRNEYS United States Patent PLASTIC DISPLAY BASKET FOR TOMATOES AND THE LIKE WITH INTEGRAL INTERCONNECT- lNG MEANS Filed Oct. 12, 1959, Ser. No. 845,779

2 Claims. (Cl. 206-4533) My invention relates generally to display containers for tomatoes and the like and more particularly to containers molded from plastic material to form a network of interconnecting ribs and the like Which define large apertures for visual inspection of the contents.

The primary object of my invention is the provision of a novel tomato display boat or basket formed from cooperating pairs of substantially identical basket sections-which sections are provided at their opposite end portions with novel interlocking elements which may be readily attached and detached, whereby to provide acontainer having identical top and bottom portions.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a device of the class described which will securely retain the tomatoes or other edible objects being displayed therein during shipment, handling, display and the like, without the necessity of transparent sheeting or the like.

A further object of my invention isthe provision of a device of the class above described which may be ex tremely inexpensively produced so as to enable same to be thrown away after consumption of the goods displayed therein.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of a device of the class described wherein the basket sections may be assembled and disassembled in a minimum of time and with a minimum of skill, and which sections, by virtue of the material from which they are formed, will retain themselves in an interlocking relationship against accidental separation.

The above and still further objects of my invention will become apparent from the following detailedspecification, appended claims and attached drawings.

Referring to the drawings wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a view in top plan of my novel structure;

Fig. 2 is a View in side elevation of the structure of Fig. 1; i

Fig. 3 is a view in end elevation as seen from left to right with respect to Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a View in end elevation as seen from right to left with respect to Fig. 2. Y

Referring with greater particularity-to the drawing, the numeral 1 indicates in its entirety one'of a pair of 2,980,243 Patented Apr. 18, 1961 integral upstanding hook elements 9 which, preferably and as shown, open laterally outwardly in opposite directions. As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the closed end portions 5 of the basket sections 1 are formed to provide, immediately longitudinally outwardly of their respective rails 8, laterally spaced elongated slots 10 of a size to freely receive therein the hook elements 9. Each of the slots 10, adjacent the opposite side rails 7, defines ahookreceiving element 11.

When it is desired to securely enclose a plurality of longitudinally spaced tomatoes or the like within a display basket or container formed from my novel basket sections 1, one of said basket sections is inverted over the other thereof with the hook elements 9 associated with the open ends 6 in overlying relationship to the slots 10 associated with the closed ends 5 of the other of said sections 1, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2. Forthe purpose of inserting the hook elements 9 within the cooperating slots 10 of the opposing basket section, the sides 4 adjacent the open ends 6 are squeezed together as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 4. Release of the pressure upon the sides 4 will, due to the resilient nature of the material, cause the hook elements 9 to have hook-engaging relationship with the hook-receiving elereceiving elements, one of said sections being superidentical basket sections utilized in the formation of my sides 4 are identified by the numeral 7, whereas the transverse rail extendingalong the upper edge of the closed end '5 and connecting the side rails 7, is identified by the numeral 8.

As shown particularly in Figs.' 2 and 4,'the opposite sides 4, adjacent the open ends 6, are formed to provide ments 11 of the slots 10. Obviously unhooking relation, forthe purpose of separation of the basket sections 1, is arranged in an identical manner. However, as above indicated, the resilient nature of the material is suflicient to cause and maintain a hook-engaging relationship between the hook elements 9 and the hook-receiving elements 11 of an opposing pair of basket sections 1, so as to eliminate the possibility of accidental separation during shipment, handling and display.

My invention has been thoroughly tested and found to be completely satisfactory for the accomplishment of the above objects, and while I have shown a preferred embodiment thereof, I wish it to be understood that same may be capable of modification without departure from the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A display basket for tomatoes and the like, said.

basket comprising a pair of cooperating substantially identical generally rectangular basket sections molded from resilient plastic material and each thereof comprising'a perforate top-bottom wall, perforate opposite side walls integral with said top-bottom wall, a perforate end wall integral with said top-bottom and opposite side walls, and an open end,each of said basket sections at its open end portion being formed to provide laterally opening hook elements adjacent said side Walls thereof and at its closed end portion'being formed to define hook imposed upon the other thereof in inverted relationship with the open end thereof overlying the closed end of said other thereof a'ndiwith the hook elements of each thereof in lockingrelationship with the hook receiving elementsof the other thereof, lateral flexing of the hook 'elementsof each of said sections permitting locking or unlocking relationship between said sections.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 in which said hook elements project vertically beyond the horizontal plane defined by the free edges of said side walls and said end wall, and in which the end walls of said sections are formed to provide transversely elongated slot means for the reception of said hook elements, 'end portions of said slotmeans defining said hook-engaging elements.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,695,723 2,708,028 Murphy May 10,195:

2,801,766 Bishop Aug. 6,1957

Waterman Nov. 30,1954 

